purplepenning's Reviews (1.72k)

This is an exceptionally written character-driven book (with a couple of plot-driven gut punches) that captures the current moment in a way that reminds me of Such a Fun Age. For some reason, I didn't realize the depth of the grief and loss that would be explored, so definitely check those content notes. It also explores racism in the workplace and relationships, pressures of first gen immigrants, modern dating, Google as parent/mentor/friend, loneliness, sexual pressure and pleasure for women, found family, mental health, and more. It's all packed into a deceptively simple story about a daughter with an overly developed sense of responsibility and an underdeveloped support system. 

Fans of India Holton's Dangerous Damsels series should definitely check this out — it's a sapphic regency romance adventure set in an England where the fae, the old gods, and the new gods all exist in active form. Principal action takes place in Bath and features Sulis Minerva, the Celtic-Roman goddess of the sacred springs that feed Bath's, well, baths. (This is, oddly, the second recently published book I've read to feature Minerva; the other is Garth Nix's The Sinister Booksellers of Bath.)

Mortal Follies is narrated by Puck / Robin Goodfellow (of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" fame) with lots of nods, winks, and digs about Shakespeare and Shakespearean faerie chaos. It follows the misadventures Miss Maeylis Mitchelmore, a young society darling who has had the mysterious misfortune of being cursed by a goddess. Miss Mitchelmore, to her friends' mixed reaction of dismay and delight, turns to the alluring society outcast, Lady Georgianna Landrake (the "Duke of Annadale"), for advice, protection, and what comfort a brooding heiress who is also a possible witch and murderer may give a stricken innocent with hidden strength and spirit.

This should've all worked for me, but alas — I found the main relationship to be somewhat tedious. The  pacing and character development didn't work for me and there was entirely too much brooding and badgering for my taste. But I did love the whole idea of this book, enjoyed the heck out of the narrator's perspective, and am happy that Alexis Hall just keeps writing whatever they want and I keep reading it.

Check the content notes — there are some surprisingly brutal sacrifice scenes (old gods, you know), some inner LGBTQ transphobic nonsense, and a little murder and debilitating disease. 

Exceptionally succinct, well written, and well supported. The audiobook narration is also excellent. 

Funny and sweet contemporary YA fantasy that isn't covering a lot of new ground with the plot but is an excellent found family story with heartwarmingly kind and conscientious characters. I'd read a half dozen more of these. 

Super fast read and one of the best portrayals of young love and mental health struggles I've seen in YA. I love how smart and talented these main characters are and how even the secondary characters get nuanced, realistic portrayals.

A little messy, a little mysterious, and as much a foodie rom-com as it is a bookish one. It didn't end up working for me but I knew going in that it featured a love triangle — one of my least favorite tropes — so I'm not going to rate it low for doing what it said it would do. In addition to the foodie and bookish vibes, you'll find Black D.C. community, a hilarious girl and granny group, and very frank and steamy conversations and depictions of sex.  

Yikes. This story was kind of a mess but I could barely see it through all the red flags Silas was waving.